I came across a little know law that seemed to grant a license to steal based on a particular profession. I wonder who could have written this law? Politicians are the ones who pass laws so it must have been politicians. Seems a bit too obvious or maybe they just didn’t care, and what in the World does a little known and slanted law have to do with tai chi. Hang on sec an I’ll tell you.
I’ve heard tai chi masters being accused of dolling out “the secrets” slowly and carefully just so they can keep their students coming back for more and keep charging them for more classes. Let’s take a look at this. Maybe I’m not the best example here, but I’ve often heard things from my Teacher and from my Master that we’re a bit eye opening at the time. Some of these things I’d even heard years before… from them.
Masters don’t need to withhold information to keep us coming back. You see we often don’t remember things we’ve been taught and sometimes it takes being told the same thing over and over for it to sink in. My jiejie, or older training sister, illustrated this human tendency in a very real way for me. A few years ago she said to our teacher, “You told me that when I first started here and I just got it.” She had been studying for 10 years at the time, and she’s a particularly talented student. So much for withholding information.
This little known law on the other hand, seems to be a blatant attempt by some politicians to get their hands greased, “legally”. Think about this one for a minute and I’m sure you’ll be wondering who would ever be this bold, but then again maybe not.
Your thoughts?
John
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Lyman (8 comments)
803 days ago
A Wu style teacher I knew heard from a friend practicing Kung Fu that there were secret moves and so he asked one of his teachers if there were secret T’ai Chi moves. She answered that there were many secret moves. Later she clarified that they were not secret because nobody was willing to tell him but they were secret in the sense that he did not yet understand them.
Cheers,
Lyman
grant cassidy (3 comments)
803 days ago
John:
John Wall street with the lawyers, bankers, politicians has robbed and is continuing to plunder your peoples’ wealth. The martial arts as well has no licience on honesty.
The people of China rebelled against the greed of the ruling elite many times. Kung Fu was banned and temples burned to the ground as it was a threat to the ruling class. It was taught in secret as a result. I think some times it is partly just tradition that it is taught this way to day.
I remember paying $80.00 for a months membership for my son to study Wing Chung. After the free introductory lesson he did not want to continue. I asked for a refund, the Sifu a man of considerable wealth declined. I asked why and he said, “it is buisness”. We were both unemployed. Our circumstances he knew.
A quote from one of your country’s guitar playing folk heroes Woody Guthrie.
“Some will rob you with a gun. Others with fountain pen”.
Grant
John Crewdson (479 comments)
803 days ago
Lyman,
That’s a good example of “secret” moves. Secrets go away in the light of our own understanding.
John
John Crewdson (479 comments)
803 days ago
Grant,
I don’t understand what you’re getting at here. If you were unemployed and the money was an issue in the first place, why were you sending your son to a school to study? If you continue to carry this resentment around and telling the story you will only continue to make yourself feel bad over something you can do nothing about. Let go of it and bring yourself back into balance.
Don’t take this blog too seriously either. Although I do try to give good information, sometimes I’m just playing around.
John
Sheldon (75 comments)
803 days ago
Back when I was training Kung Fu, the master under which I was training would seem to withhold information to some and not others, but it really wasn’t the case.
It always came down to weather or not you applied yourself to extra training after, before, and between classes… if you did then you usually got extra info, and normally it was not anything different, just a finer emphasis on certain aspects of Kung Fu.
grant (5 comments)
803 days ago
John:
The point I was trying to make was the dishonesty of those who have so much taking from those that are vulnerable and have so little,- (Wall street, the rich).
I saw the man many times since and carry no resentment. He simply is doing business. I see it as greed. My son was being bullied at school. Love motivated me to go to his school I am on disability and will probably never work again. Money is always an issue every day. The miserable and miserly pension I receive is an insult. He was well aware of my circumstances.
I like the man, but money unfortunately plays much to great a part of his life. I even went back and asked Sifu’s advice on pesonal matters after I left his Dojo.
I don’t think I take your blog to seriously. Politics is a thorn under my saddle and that I take that very very seriously all the time!
I understand you some times just play around. Thanks for the reply.
If you want an active blog talk politics. I will try not to respond as perhaps in such a strident and strong manner as you perhaps perceived, or perhaps I did.
No promises though.
Good advice concerning balance, but it is not he. The mind can be a terrible source of poor physical health.
Thanks for your concern,
Grant
John Crewdson (479 comments)
802 days ago
Grant,
Thanks for the clarification. Politics is a hot button topic to be sure. It’s not important to me that people always agree with me. Sometimes a good disagreement moves both parties in the direction they’re looking to go, so I’m not looking for any promises there.
John
John Crewdson (479 comments)
802 days ago
Sheldon,
You’ll definitely see that in a lot of schools. The better and more motivated the student, the better and more motivated the teacher. Sometimes I’m better than other as a teacher, and sometimes that has something to do with the student… other times not.
>
John
Sheldon (75 comments)
802 days ago
Hi Lyman,
Yes that’s a very good point, the “secrets” of most systems are often actually widely taught, even in ones own school, it comes down to understanding the point… I guess it’s like a university student explaining an advanced principle of physics to a primary school student that’s still getting his head around the ABC’s.
David Neighbors (1 comments)
797 days ago
The military went high tech in the late 1980′s. The people graduating from basic had to know basic army skills plus learn the complex equipment. There was just not enough time to learn everything during basic training. The military conducted a study to see how to make training more productive. The most important concept that came out of the study: one has to tell a male, between the ages of 18 and 24, something 7 times before he hears it. This does not mean it is understood, just that he has heard the information.
I do not think that there are secrets. It is just that we are not hearing what is being told to us. Of couse, often times the instructor never learned much more than the form. Anything that he did not learn would become a secret.
David
John Crewdson (479 comments)
796 days ago
David,
Interesting that soldiers have to be told something 7 times before they hear it. Secrets hidden by lack of knowledge is a great way to look at this too.
John
Sasa (3 comments)
796 days ago
Hi,
take a look at the video of Master Bob Boyd – Tale of two Taichis – on Youtube ‘iptaichi’ account. He explains a lot about ‘hidden knowledge’ of the Yang family Tai Chi Chuan.
As for the teaching part i must say something – i repeat and repeat and repeat to my students some info until they got it in their head. After hard and long practice they should recognise the input that i have given them and then work further. If not, then again repeat, repeat until they can get the full info and understand it intellectually. Eventually, their bodies can understand it too
Nothing hidden – every principle is out there – you need a good teacher to explain it and you have to study twice as hard to understand it.
All best from Serbia.
Sasa
John Crewdson (479 comments)
795 days ago
Thanks Sasa,
Interesting information. Yes, if we want the information we have to work at it.
John
Javed ahmed (2 comments)
771 days ago
If your health is not as per your age and body structure then you should live a healthy life.
John Crewdson (479 comments)
770 days ago
Javed,
I Couldn’t agree more.
John
London day spa (3 comments)
634 days ago
One of the basic rules in this sport is the fight does not stay continued. Once the opponent is down on the ground, the referee stops the fight and he is helped back up so the fight can resume.